Warren Buffett made an unusual move with his Apple stock investment.

Warren Buffett made an unusual move with his Apple stock investment.
Warren Buffett made an unusual move with his Apple stock investment.

Is it a coincidence or a master plan that Warren Buffett now owns the same number of shares of Apple as he did before cutting his tech holdings in half?

After a regulatory "13-F" filing Wednesday night, many Buffett followers noticed that 's equity holdings at the end of the second quarter were identical, with a 400 million share count in both Apple and Coca-Cola, Buffett's oldest and longest stock position.

Some believe that the "Oracle of Omaha" has stopped selling his stake in the iPhone manufacturer.

"Buffett's preference for round numbers may indicate that he is not planning to sell any more Apple shares, according to finance professor David Kass. Similarly, as Coca-Cola is a permanent holding for Buffett, so may be Apple."

For 30 years, the 93-year-old legendary investor has maintained a steady Coca-Cola stake count of approximately 100 million shares.

Berkshire's Coca-Cola holding increased to 400 million shares after two rounds of 2-for-1 stock splits in 2006 and 2012.

Buffett discovered the iconic soft drink at the age of six and later recognized its commercial potential when he started buying Cokes in bulk and selling them for a profit.

Slashing Apple stake

Despite Buffett's value investing principles, treating tech high-flyers like Apple as consumer products companies rather than technology investments seems to be his approach.

Buffett has emphasized the devoted customer base of the iPhone, stating that individuals would forsake their vehicles prior to relinquishing their smartphones. He also proclaimed Apple to be the second-most imperative enterprise following Berkshire's conglomerate of insurers.

It was surprising to some when it was disclosed that Berkshire sold off more than half of its investment in Apple in the second quarter.

The sale of Apple shares reduced Berkshire's portfolio weighting from 50% to approximately 30%, leading many to speculate that it was part of a larger market view or portfolio management decision, rather than a prediction about Apple's future prospects.

It seems that Buffett has settled on this round number as a preferred location for his most valued and long-held stocks.

Still, some said it could just be a pure coincidence.

Bill Stone, chief investment officer at Glenview Trust Company and a Berkshire shareholder, stated that he believes Buffett does not hold that view.

At Berkshire's annual meeting in May, Buffett compared the two and stated that the holding period for both was unlimited.

"Buffett stated that we own Coca-Cola, which is a great business, and we also own Apple, which is an even better business. He added that we will continue to own these companies unless something extraordinary happens."

by Yun Li

Markets